Washington Telegraph

Letter from Prof. Webster to the Rev. Dr. Francis Parkman.
(From the Boston Transcript)

The following letter, communicated for the Transcript of this day, was addressed by Prof. Webster to the Rev. Dr. Parkman, and a copy retained in the possession of the former, which he confided to a friend, with permission to make such disposition of it as he might see fit after his own decease. We mention this, in order that the gentleman to whom the letter was addressed, may not be suspected of having disregarded the request which it contains.

Boston, Aug. 6, 1850.

Rev. Dr. Parkman—Dear Sir: I cannot leave this world in the peace of mind for which I pray, without addressing you as the head of that family which I have so deeply injured and afflicted, to make known to you and them the bitter anguish of soul, the sincere contrition and penitence I have felt, at having been the cause of the affliction under which you and they have been called to mourn.

I can offer no excuse for my wicked and fatal ebullition of passion but what you already know, nor would I attempt to palliate it.

I had never, until the two or three last interviews with your brother, felt towards him anything but gratitude for his many acts of kindness and friendship—

That I should have allowed the feelings excited on those occasions to have overpowered me so as to involve the life of your brother, and my own temporal and eternal welfare, I can, even now, hardly realize.

I may not receive from you forgiveness in this world, yet I cannot but hope and believe you will think of me with compassion, and remember me in your prayers to Him who will not turn away from the humble and repentant. Had I many lives, with what joy would I lay them all down, could I, in the least, atone for the injury I have done, or alleviate the afflictions I have caused, but I can only now pray for forgiveness for myself and for every consolation and blessing upon every member of your family.

In justice to those dearest to me, I beg to assure you, and I entreat you to believe me, no one of my family had the slightest doubt of my entire innocence up to the moment when the contrary was communicated to them by Dr. Parkman. That they have your sincere pity and sympathy, I feel assured.

There is no family towards every member of which I have always felt a greater degree of respect and regard than that of which you are now the head. From more than one I have received repeated acts of friendship and kindness, for which I have ever been and am most truly grateful.

Towards yourself, in particular, have not only my own feelings been those of the most sincere regard and gratitude, but every individual of my family has felt towards you that you were their pastor and friend. Often has my wife recalled the interest you took in her from her first becoming your parishioner and often has she spoken, with feelings of deep gratitude, of the influence of your administration and of your private ministrations and conversations, and of your direction of her inquiries and reading in what related to her religious views. These she has often recalled and referred to, as having firmly established the religious faith and trust which are now such sources of consolation and support to her and to our children, as well as myself.

Nothing that has occurred has weakened these feelings, and although those I leave behind me may not meet you without the keenest anguish, I trust you will exonerate them from any participation in, or any knowledge of the father's sin, up to the moment I have mentioned, and may you remember them in your prayers to the Father of the fatherless and the widow's God.

I beg you, my dear sir, to consider this strictly private letter, and by no means to give it publicity; at the same time I will request you to make known to the immediate members of your family the state of my feelings and my contrition.

That every consolation and blessing may be vouchsafed to yourself and to every member of your family, is the heartfelt prayer of

Yours, most respectfully,
(Signed) J. W. WEBSTER.